Data entry retrieval

Abstract

The present invention provides for the recovery of characters entered into at least one data entry zone of a data entry window. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: storing a first image of the data entry window during data entry; subtracting a reference image from the first image to obtain a delta image, wherein the reference image is an image of the data entry window without data entered; identifying at least one non empty zone of the delta image and the location of the at least one data entry zone on the data entry window from the location of the at least one non empty zone on the delta image; extracting at least one character by applying optical character recognition to the least one non empty zone; and inputting the at least one character into the location of the at least one data entry zone.

1. A method of recovering characters entered into at least one data entry zone of a data entry window, the method comprising:
 storing a first image of the data entry window during data entry; 
 subtracting a reference image from the first image to obtain a delta image, wherein the reference image is an image of the data entry window without data entered; 
 identifying at least one non empty zone of the delta image and a location of the at least one data entry zone on the data entry window from a location of the at least one non empty zone on the delta image; 
 extracting at least one character by applying optical character recognition to the at least one non empty zone; and 
 inputting the at least one character into the location of the at least one data entry zone. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prompting a user for entry if the optical character recognition fails. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing data indicative of a pointer position in the first image, wherein identifying at least one empty zone further comprises excluding the position of the pointer. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising;
 storing a plurality of images of the data entry window during data entry, and 
 receiving a user selection of one of the plurality of images as the first image. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein inputting the at least one character further comprises:
 positioning a pointer at the location of the at least one data entry zone; and 
 emulating keyboard entry of the at least one character. 
 
     
     
       6. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer usable medium, which when executed, recovers characters entered into at least one data entry zone of a data entry window, the program product comprising program code for:
 storing a first image of the data entry window during data entry; 
 subtracting a reference image from the first image to obtain a delta image, wherein the reference image is an image of the data entry window without data entered; 
 identifying at least one non empty zone of the delta image and a location of the at least one data entry zone on the data entry window from a location of the at least one non empty zone on the delta image; 
 extracting at least one character by applying optical character recognition to the at least one non empty zone; and 
 inputting the at least one character into the location of the at least one data entry zone. 
 
     
     
       7. The computer program product of  claim 6 , further comprising program code for:
 prompting a user for entry if the optical character recognition fails. 
 
     
     
       8. The computer program product of  claim 6 , further comprising program code for:
 storing data indicative of a pointer position in the first image, wherein identifying at least one empty zone further comprises excluding the position of the pointer. 
 
     
     
       9. The computer program product of  claim 6 , further comprising program code for:
 storing a plurality of images of the data entry window during data entry; and 
 receiving a user selection of one of the plurality of images as the first image. 
 
     
     
       10. The computer program product of  claim 6 , wherein the inputting the at least one character further comprises:
 positioning a pointer at the location of the at least one data entry zone; and 
 emulating keyboard entry of the at least one character. 
 
     
     
       11. A data processing system for recovering characters entered into at least one data entry zone of a data entry window, the data processing system comprising:
 a system for storing a first image of the data entry window during data entry; 
 a system for subtracting a reference image from the first image to obtain a delta image, wherein the reference image is an image of the data entry window without data entered; 
 a system for identifying at least one non empty zone of the delta image and a location of the at least one data entry zone on the data entry window from a location of the at least one non empty zone on the delta image; 
 a system for extracting at least one character by applying optical character recognition to the least one non empty zone; and 
 a system for inputting the at least one character into the location of the at least one data entry zone. 
 
     
     
       12. The data processing system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a system for prompting a user for entry in the event that the optical character recognition fails. 
 
     
     
       13. The data processing system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a system for storing data indicative of a pointer position in the first image, wherein the system for identifying at least one empty zone excludes the position of the pointer. 
 
     
     
       14. The data processing system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a system for storing a plurality of images of the data entry window during data entry; and 
 a system for receiving a user selection of one of the plurality of images as the first image. 
 
     
     
       15. The data processing system of  claim 11 , wherein the system for inputting the at least one character positions a pointer at the location of the at least one data entry zone and emulates keyboard entry of the at least one character. 
     
     
       16. A data processing system comprising:
 a display for displaying an input window; 
 an input device for inputting data into the input window; 
 a screen capture module for capturing at least a first image of the input window; 
 storage for the at least first image; 
 a processor for determining a delta image from differences between the at least first image and a reference image of the input window; 
 an optical character recognition module for determining at least one character from the delta image; and 
 an input device emulation module for inputting the at least one character into the input window. 
 
     
     
       17. The data processing system of  claim 16 , wherein the display displays a cursor, the screen capture module captures a position of the cursor, and the processor determines whether a section of the delta image represents the cursor. 
     
     
       18. The data processing system of  claim 16 , wherein the processor determines non empty zones of the delta image. 
     
     
       19. The data processing system of  claim 16 , wherein the screen capture module captures a plurality of images of the input window, and wherein the data processing system further comprises an interface for receiving a user selection of one of the images of the plurality of images as the at least first image.